Effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Cognitive Training for Alzheimer Patients

July 11, 2010 updated by: Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center

Testing the Effects of TMS Stimulation and Cognitive Training for Alzheimer Patients: A Pilot Study

Current diagnosis of Alzheimer disease is made by clinical, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging assessments. Routine structural neuroimaging evaluation is based on nonspecific features, such as atrophy, which is a late feature in the progression of the disease. Therefore, developing new approaches for early and specific recognition of Alzheimer disease at the prodromal stages is of crucial importance.

In the present study the investigators would like to examine if combined treatment with TMS and cognitive training (CoTra) for several weeks can produce a sustained improvement in cognitive and behavioral symptomatology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. A number of in vivo neuroimaging techniques, which can be used to reliably and noninvasively assess aspects of neuroanatomy, chemistry, physiology, and pathology, hold promise.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Anticipated)

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Israel
      • Beer-Yaakov, Israel, 70300
        • Assaf-Harofeh MC

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

55 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male or female age 55-85 years
  • Patients diagnosed with early or moderate stage of Alzheimer's disease, according to the DSM-IV criteria.
  • MMSE score 15 to 26
  • Global Dementia rating 1 or 2
  • Physically acceptable for the study as confirmed by medical history and exam, clinical laboratory results and EKG
  • Spouse, family member or professional caregiver agree and capable of taking care and responsibility for the participation of the patient in the study (transportation for the patient to and from the investigator's clinic, answering questions regarding the patient's condition and assuming responsibility for medication)
  • Written informed consent by patient or legally responsible caregiver.
  • Able to undergo MRI scanning sessions (e.g., prior to the onset of the study, upon the attainment of the primary end-point and at the end of the study).
  • Commitment to participation in six-to eighteen weeks of the trial regimen consisting of approximately1 hour TMS stimulation and cognitive training daily treatment of five days a week - six to eighteen weeks (and up to two treatments a day in case the Third TMS stimulation and cognitive training Treatment protocol if necessary).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Severe agitation;
  • Mental retardation;
  • Unstable medical condition;
  • Use of benzodiazepines or other hypnotics during the study and preceding two weeks;
  • Pharmacological immunosuppression;
  • Participation in a clinical trial with any investigational agent within two weeks prior to study enrollment;
  • Alcoholism;
  • History of Epileptic Seizures or Epilepsy;
  • Contraindication for performing MRI scanning;
  • Clinically significant abnormal laboratory findings which have not been approved by the Project Director;

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Treatment Group (#1)
Device: TMS stimulation
TMS stimulation and cognitive training
Behavioral: Cognitive training
TMS stimulation and cognitive training
Sham Comparator: Control group (#2)
Device: Sham comparator
Sham comparator

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Evaluation of the efficacy of the TMS stimulation with cognitive training in treatment of early- to mid- stage Alzheimer's patients will be established by improvement of at least 4 points on ADAS-COG.
Time Frame: 3 months
3 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Safety will be established by paucity of related adverse events.
Time Frame: 3 months
3 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Shai Efrati, MD, Assaf-Harofeh MC

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

July 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2010

Study Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 24, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 26, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

May 27, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

July 13, 2010

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 11, 2010

Last Verified

July 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NRX -NC-01

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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